Sociology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 210 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best sociology schools.
No school ranked higher than Santa Clara University this year for sociology. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Santa Clara University awarded about 14 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from Santa Clara University earn around $53,612 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
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University Of California Berkeley came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 275 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $40,774 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,131 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for sociology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 51 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $100,827 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sociology, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 170 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $40,062 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $19,286 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong sociology program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #5. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 616 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $34,372 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
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University Of Southern California came in at #6 for sociology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 49 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $35,580. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $10,324 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #7 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 645 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $34,121 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis landed the #8 spot for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 253 sociology degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of California Davis earn around $32,137 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,600.
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University Of California San Diego came in at #9 for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 147 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $36,464. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University came in at #10 for sociology this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 194 sociology degrees in the most recent data year.
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California State University Sacramento landed the #11 spot for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 291 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $37,040 early in their careers. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $16,100 in student loans.
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Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 sociology degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Sociology graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $54,116 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #13 for sociology this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 58 sociology degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $30,401. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
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Loyola Marymount University placed #14 among the best sociology schools. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 49 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $35,993 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine placed #15 among the best sociology schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 217 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $34,050 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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San Francisco State University landed the #16 spot for sociology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 118 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $40,763 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Sonoma State University earned the #17 position for sociology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Sonoma State University awarded about 70 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $37,896. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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California State University East Bay ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 159 sociology students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sociology program make about $39,378 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,654 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Francisco came in at #19 for sociology this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 sociology students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sociology degree from University Of San Francisco earn around $36,183 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Saint Marys College Of California earned the #20 position for sociology this year. Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Saint Marys College Of California graduates 70% of students within six years. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 11 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of Saint Marys College Of California earn a median of $59,760 early in their careers. Saint Marys College Of California graduates carry a median of $25,041 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge landed the #21 spot for sociology this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Northridge awarded about 388 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $34,093 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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San Diego State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 167 sociology degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $35,136. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #23 position for sociology this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 193 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sociology degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $30,432. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $13,300 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best sociology schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 334 sociology degrees in the most recent data year. Sociology graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $34,714 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,917.
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California State University Long Beach landed the #25 spot for sociology this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 312 sociology degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their sociology degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $31,270 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sociology from California State University Long Beach
Rest of the Top 50 Sociology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for sociology this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 210 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
